§ 16. Mr. FELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if the Returns of the emigrants from this country supply particulars of the occupations of the emigrants; and, if so, can he give the numbers of those connected with the building trade who left the United Kingdom in each of the last three years?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available, owing to the fact that in the records of occupations of outgoing passengers a large number of cases occur in which the description of the occupation is not sufficiently definite. In particular the large class vaguely described as "labourers" cannot be allocated to the trades in connection with which the persons so described have been employed.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Emigration Board publish the trades of the men who emigrate, and will he communicate with the secretary of the Board, requesting him to give any information on the subject it is in his power to furnish?
§ Mr. BUXTONIf the information is contained in official returns, it should be possible to give it.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask if they have information at the office that an exceptionally large number of men connected with the building trades have emigrated in the last few years?
§ Mr. BUXTONWill the hon. Member kindly give notice of that question?